Thursday, October 29, 2009

Sticker giveaway winner announced!!!

Congratulations to Sara Tankersley sara.tankersley@yahoo.com for winning 250 custom printed sticker/label blog giveaway!!! Her comment (#7) was chosen by random.com!

Thanks to all who participated and have a great weeken everyone!

Kara

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Win 250 Stickers/Labels from Uprinting and Me!!!

YIPPIE!!!!! My next giveaway, thanks to Uprinting, is 250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner. Oh, but it gets better, not only is there one lucky winner, but I also get the awesome prize for hosting the giveaway (see the perks of a sponsor!)

If you haven’t heard about Uprinting, check out the
Sticker Printing and variety of other products they have to offer to meet you business or creative needs!

About the Prize:

* 250 stickers/labels (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)
* You choose from the size: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 4”, 3 x 3”
* Paper: 70lb label matte
* Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing


So, how can you win???? Here's the nitty gritty!

---How To Enter---

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment describing what you would have printed on the stickers. You must do this entry before doing any extras.

---Extra Entries---
(Make sure you leave a separate comment below for EACH extra entry.)

- Be a follower of my blog. (1 entry)

- Subscribe to my feed (1 entry)

- Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway - must leave tweet link in the comment (1 entry daily) Me: @k9kreations You can also follow @uprinting also!

- Blog about and link back to this giveaway. Leave a link to your post in the comments. (5 entries)

- Purchase any item from my Etsy shop (10 entries)

---Details---
- Giveaway ends Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 11:59 pm PST.
- Winner will be chosen by random.org.
- Winner will have 48 hrs to respond, or another winner will be chosen.
- Rules for each entry must be followed valid.
- Giveaway is open to US & CANADA residents ONLY. FREE UPS Ground Shipping for US residents.

Please make sure that your email is linked to your account, or that you leave it in your comments!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

~Kara

Thursday, October 15, 2009

My first official product review and more!

Elaine, of Honey Pie Accessories and I are both on Swapmamas.com and we initiated a swap of our creative talents. She'd make a tutu for Hayden and I'd send her pup some treats. Well, here's a picture of the absolutely fantastic tutu that Elaine made for me!!!!



I sent her a variety of K9KreationsbyKara treats and she wrote a blog post about 'em..... check it out here!!!! She did a review of the product and even posted appreciation pics of her doggie Bailey enjoying some of Drea's Pumpkin Pie Spice Drops! :)

It's so great to see happy customers, happy puppies and happy swaps!


The day I had today, was lets just say.... forgettable!! Or, maybe it was unforgettable but I wish I could forget it haha. Had a nice drive up to Wilsonville for day 2 of my HR certification training. That was great. Had an hour lunch break, decided to seek out some yummy food. Rolled upon a Taco Del Mar (which I love) and decided to eat there. Was chatting away on my cell with my assistant at work (checking in making sure the place hadn't gone to hell in a hand basket) and hopped out of the car to get some grub and the instant I turned around I knew it was an awful awful thing. I'd left my keys in the ignition and locked the doors. So, without too much panic, I call Geico to get some roadside assistance out to my location.......... tow company takes forever, and can't seem to get into my car. I guess those Dodge Caliber's were made pretty anti-theft like. The dude finally gets my door unlocked and sends me on my way.... meanwhile I'm already 5 minutes late back to my conference. Rest of the day goes well.

On my way home, I stop at the Outlet Mall to see if I can find anything I think I need, no luck. I take an alternate route home and see a distressed young man on the side of the road and figure he must have a flat or something. As I pass the car, I notice that he didn't have a flat.... he'd hit a dog, a tan pit bull. The animal lover in me automatically pulls over, pulls a u-turn and heads back. During that time, the car had driven away and a woman was running across the street to meet one of the car occupants, to attend to the dog with a blanket. I ask her if she needs help and she said no. Then I ask her if it was a stray dog and she responds, "no. it's my dog" and I could see the tears in her eyes. My heart sank. I felt soooo bad that she'd had to lose her dog, especially in those circumstances. I informed her that if she wanted to take the dog to the local shelter, they'd help her out with the hard part. She thanked me and I drove away, wondering if my dogs were home and safe.

It was a sad ending to the day, but on a positive note, I was able to come home and snuggle my dogs and enjoy their presence.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Product Review of the Week

I figured my first product review ought to be dog related... it only seemed right. So, I'd like introduce you to Poochy Couture! I searched all over Etsy for the perfect dog id tag for Sawyer before we adopted him and brought him home. I knew I'd need something durable, long lasting and cute. I always have an issue with pet tags.. they're cheap, they don't last long and the writing rubs off or gets scratched off from other tags clanking against it. I've tried the tag silencers, which really don't help, they just block out some of the jingle jangle sound. Puppies are destructive so I needed a puppy-proof tag!!!

I ran across Poochy Couture and my modern style drove me straight to the Nickel Cutesy Pet Id Washer.



This tag is not only industrial strength (hey, it's made from a nickel washer) but it's practical! The tag is hand stamped, which means it's one of a kind. Once stamped, enamel is colorized for a pop of color. This adds a lil something extra! :)


I was so pleased with the tag that I received for Sawyer, that I ordered another one for Drea. These tags hold up to water, dirt, slobber, rough housing, chewing..... you name it! They even come with a cute little charm on the hook. For only $7 plus s/h you can get one for your pooch. Nickel washer tag not for you???? Well Poochy Couture has a lot of other tags to choose from!!!!


One tip that I learned while working at the humane society..... you shouldn't put your dog's name on their tag, because it makes it that much easier for a stranger to get to know your dog and potentially keep him/her (especially if they're super cute and super friendly). You wouldn't want a stranger knowing your child's name and coaxing them into going somewhere with them, why would you put your dog in that situation?????? Hmmmmm got ya thinking, didn't I!!!! Address and phone number are best. It gives 2 ways for you to be contacted and have your dog returned to you. ID tags are not just for fashion you know... they serve a very important purpose and if you've ever had the unfortunate experience of losing your pup or having them run away on you, you certainly know how important it is to have proper ID on your pet!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Winner announcement!!!!!

You know that song, 1 is the lonliest number. Well not when it comes to the K9 Kreations by Kara blog giveaways!!!!!!! Congrats to Ashley (ashleyveater@gmail.com) who's comment was chosen by the random number generator for the 250 custom printed greeting cards from uprinting.com!

Ashley posted the first comment on this giveaway, which read "I need them because I live far away from my family and friends and have a big Christmas card list this year!"

Congrats Ashley, now you don't have an excuse to forget the Christmas cards this year.... and while you're at it, add a bunch of randome people, because really, who knows 250 people!?!?! ha ha.

Thanks everyone for entering and I'm hoping to have another giveaway up really soon!!!!!

~Kara

Friday, October 09, 2009

Trick for Treats! And some friendly advice too!

Who says your dogs can't enjoy Halloween!?!?!? Your kids go Trick or Treating and the dogs can do Tricks for Treats! :) I'm so glad the fall season is here, it means I can bust out the apple cider scents, the light up pumpkins and Halloween decor and wake up every morning to a layer of fog surrounding everything. Check out my Etsy shop for some delicious holiday treats that your pup is sure to enjoy. Right now I have a selection of pumpkin flavored treats and will soon be unveiling some more scrumptious "brew some cocoa, curl up in a blanket by the fire and nibble on some fudge" kinda goodies! :)

The advocate side of me will be featured in the later part of this blog :) Just like that annoying stranger in the check out line at the grocery store who tries to give you parenting advice, I'm going to give you some pet owner advice. Completely optional, but highly recommended!!!!!

A few friendly tips for you and your pets during this Fall/Winter season.

HOUSING:
Be sure to provide proper shelter for your pets. If your pooch is lucky to be a strictly indoor pet, their bed or crate should be kept in a warm, draft-free area, elevated slightly off the floor. If your pet is kept outdoors, provide a warm insulated pet house or shelter. The house should be elevated enough so that moisture cannot accumulate inside. Or better yet, bring them inside (or at least into the garage.)

FROSTBITE:
Remove ice and snow from your pet's paws and coat immediately! Frostbitten skin may turn reddish, white or gray, and it may be scaly or sloughing. If you think your dog might have frostbite, take your pet to a warm place immediately. Thaw out frostbitten areas slowly by applying warm, moist towels that are changed frequently. Continue until the affected areas become flushed. DO NOT FORGET TO CALL THE VET! They will probably want to evaluate the seriousness of the condition.

SNOW REMOVAL SALT:
Some substances produced to melt ice and snow have low to moderate toxicity, depending on the ingredients and amount ingested. Read the labels and take necessary precautions. Keep these products stored in tight containers out of your pet's and children's reach and be sure to remove salt from your pet's paws immediately. Aside from ingesting these items, walking on them is harmful too! You wouldn't want to walk on that stuff, why would your dogs?

FOOD:
Staying warm requires extra calories (no wonder why we gorge on Thanksgiving dinner!) so make sure your pets are eating enough when the temperature drops.

WATER:
Always have fresh, clean water available for your pet, it's the right thing to do! If your pet is kept outdoors, be sure to check his water frequently since it may freeze and no dog wants to lick an ice cube all day!


The holidays are quickly approaching, so here are some tips about how to keep you and your pets happy during this special time of year!

Increased activity and visitors during the holiday season can throw off your pet's routine. Try to keep your pet on their regular schedule for feeding and exercise and be sure they get plenty of love and affection!!!!

If you are planning to take your pet with you somewhere for the holiday season, be sure to contact the host in advance to find out if your pet is welcome. Because of the excitement during this season, it might be best for you as well as your pet, if you board your pet or hire a pet sitter.

Alcoholic beverages, holiday treats such as chocolates, rich, fatty food scraps and bones from poultry, pork and fish can be harmful or even deadly to pets. Keep your pet on their regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pet "special treats."

Never put ribbon or yarn around your pet's neck and do not allow your pet to play with plastic or foil wrappings or six-pack beverage holders. I'm anal about cutting the rings on the 6pk holders because I'm haunted by images of marine life getting stuck in them!!!! I've even got my husband paranoid about it!

Cover or tack down electrical cords. We may not think so, but pets sure do think cords are yummy!

PLANTS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Mistletoe - Very toxic, all parts, especially the berries.

Holly - Moderate to very toxic, especially the berries and leaves.

Poinsettia - Leaves and stems low in toxicity.

Christmas Greens such as Balsam, Juniper, Cedar, Pine and Fir - All parts of these plants have a low level of toxicity.

Keep toxic plants out of your pet's and children's reach.


HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

Bubbling Lights - Moderate to lethal toxicity, depending on the amount of fluid (methylene chloride) inhaled or ingested.

Fireplace Colors (fire salts) - Moderate toxicity; symptoms are gastrointestinal irritation with vomiting and a variety of other manifestations, including convulsions.

Angel Hair (spun glass) - Low toxicity; can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and gastrointestinal tract.

Christmas Tree Preservative Solution - Low toxicity, depending upon formulation and quantity ingested.

Snow Sprays and Snow Flock - Low toxicity, dry particles are inert; however, toxicity from inhalation can occur if sprayed directly in mouth.

Styrofoam - Low toxicity; can cause choking from mechanical obstruction.

Christmas Tree Ornaments - Non-toxic, but mechanical irritation or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract can occur if ingested.

Icicles (tinsel) - Non-toxic, however intestinal obstruction and choking are potential problems.

Snow Scenes - Toxicity may come from organisms possibly in the water, most notably Salmonella.

Read label warnings on all decorations and take the necessary precautions to protect your pet.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Sweet Sunday Finds.....

Ok, so I just took the liberty of creating a new Sunday themed blog.... Everyone always has Fun Friday Finds, or What you can't live without Wednesdays.... well I'm going to start a Sweet Sunday Finds. This will be 100% dedicated to super cute, awesome, gotta have things that I find on other's blogs or etsy shops. This week, is dedicated to my oh so favorite OWLS!!!! :)

Check out some of the awesome finds (that I wish I had $$$ to buy) on Etsy! Remember ladies (and gents- if you follow) to support homemade!


I LOVE COFFEE!!!!!!!!



Yes, I love coffee and I love owls, so what could be better than this super cute owl coffee cozy by Bellflower Textiles! For only $10.00 you can keep your hands from getting overheated, while being eco friendly and not wasting one of those carboard cozies. HELLO!


IT'S GETTING COLD OUT THERE!!!!



It is certainly Fall, and it is certainly getting colder! It's not quite snow weather, but still, a bit chilly! I love these $13.00 Musician Mitts by Rachel's Hands! How can you not think the subtle owl stitching is adorible!?!?


WHOO'S THAT ON YOUR HEAD???

If I had any sort of crocheting talent, I'd be all over this!!!!! You can get the pattern for this owl cap by Anji Beane for only $7.50!! What a deal!

SWEET SOAP FOR FALL!


I love smelly soaps, of all varieties, but these I don't think I could ever actually use! They're too cute!!!! These spiced apple cider soaps are all ready for the approaching cold months!. Each soap is about 3 inches high and made from pure glycerin, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and apple scent. Smells just like apple cider! YUMMMM


These would make a great stocking stuffer if you're doing some early holiday shopping! You can snatch up these critters at Eternal Sunshine's shop for only $6.00!!! Alicia also makes a pretty mean plush owl! :)


Thursday, October 01, 2009

Can you believe it's already OCTOBER!?!?!!

Wow. I had to flip my calendar today to October! That means, that not only is Halloween almost here, Thanksgiving is almost here, CHRISTmas is almost here and then it's 2010!!!!!! HOLY COW!

October brings some pretty awesome things my way though.....

October 9th: Oregon & SW Washington will be joining together to walk for a cause in the annual Light the Night walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I could still use any team members who are interested!!!!! If you can't walk, consider donating to the cause. We need a cure!

October 14-16th: I will be completing my HR Certification program and will have an official certificate that states I completed the program and took a bunch of elective classes. Hopefully this will help me in my current job, as well find something in the future more HR focused.

October 19th - 25th: I will be taking a trip to the great state of Pennsylvania for my husband's brother's wedding. I have never been to PA before and I'm sure it's going to be a big difference from Oregon. I will get to spend one whole day in NYC. Never been to NY either, I'm so excited to see Time Square, Ground Zero, Lady Liberty and much more! Ok, so the sightseeing is going to be fantastic, the part that may not be so fantastic is meeting my husband's extended family for the FIRST TIME!!!!! he he

October 30-Nov 1: I will be having my 2nd HAYDEN WEEKEND! My niece Hayden is 2 1/2 and a total hoot. I love hanging out with her!!! I'm going to be taking her Trick or Treating and doing other fun kid things. I'm sure she'll enjoy hanging out with Aunt Kara, playing with Sawyer and Drea and getting some quiet time before her new baby sister arrives in December. This picture is from the last Hayden weekend :)



Well now that I know I have my whole month filled up, time to start planning for November!


Super special spotlight:



Some of you may know that one of my most favorite pairs of earrings that I own, are some pink frosted cupcakes. My little sister helped me pick them out and every time I wear them, they get compliments! So, don't you want to wear some sugary treats too???? Check out Sweet Galaxy! In her galaxy you can find everything from sweet to completely alien. All items are handmade from polymer clay (and/or wires) and finished off with a double or triple coating of glaze for durability. My favorite item is the Circus Cupcake Pendant featured in the picture above!